μῦθοι Mythoi
Motif

Money cannot be kept from where it is destined to go. Miser told that his hoard is to go to poor man. He hides it in a trunk and throws it into the sea but it drifts to the house of the poor man who tries in vain to restore it to its owner.

Chance and fate. · The ways of luck and fate. · The good gifts of fortune. · view the constellation · filed as N212

Filed across the traditions
  • Russian Andrejev No. 834B*
  • West Indies Flowers 563.
  • general *Type 745
  • general *Chauvin II 129 No. 137
  • general *Herbert III 234, 377 No. 61, 447
  • general *Oesterley No. 109, Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 934B*
Within the index

Filed under The good gifts of fortune.

1 finer motif beneath it
Husband's magic gift returns to him. Wife gives husband's magic gift (fruit) to lover, who presents it to a dancing girl, who sells it back to the husband
Filed beside it
Wish for exalted husband realized. Girls make wish that they may marry king (prince, etc.). It so happens Wishes for good fortune realized Lucky person Lost object returns to its owner Man fated to be rich Child borne off by tiger, which is caught by griffin, which is killed by lioness, which rears child with her whelps Man granted power of winning at cards First objects picked up bring fortune Man must have drinking horn; stumble reveals one as he departs on search Man finds treasure he refused as gift Man robbed and penniless entertained by wealthy widow and enriched Wrecked man saved on coffer of jewels; becomes rich Man who is impoverished is given high post by princess in disguise. Marries her. (Cf. N251.3.) Leopard tied in bag in water floats to shore and finds a mate. Grateful to trickster who has tied him up The fourteen lucky daughters. The husband leaves his wife, who has given birth to fourteen girls, thinking he is persecuted by bad luck because of failure to have a son. On the seashore, the girls find precious stones. The wife, now prosperous, finds her husband among beggars Boast of poor boy made good by fate: he boasts to elder brothers he will build a palace on a certain spot; accidentally comes on treasure trove and makes good his boast
Carried in tale types

ask the rhapsode about this motif · search the shelf for “destined” · wander